SAVANNAH-AREA parents should cheer this week’s news that some academic programs aimed at high-achieving students won’t fall victim to the budget ax during the next school year.

The Savannah-Chatham County Board of Education tentatively adopted a budget for the 2012-13 school year that includes the International Baccalaurete program in elementary and middle school grades. Students who are accepted into this specialized program are challenged to do course work that’s academically rigorous and is considered especially enriching.

But up to a month ago, the IB program in the school system’s lower grades was on Superintendent Thomas Lockamy’s cut list. So was a reduction in the pre-K program and elimination of fifth grade band, among other things.

These cutbacks were viewed as one way to balance next year’s budget, which had an expected $16 million shortfall, without hiking property taxes.

Fortunately, the IB programs have been saved. A full, 190-day Pre-K school year is a survivor, too.

In fact, the news is generally good all around — next year’s projected budget of $453.3 million should be balanced without a tax hike and cuts to major programs. There should be no furlough days or shortened school year. Teachers should receive their step pay increases with benefits.

Given the difficult economy and unemployment woes, this is refreshing to hear. Compared to previous years, in fact, the 2012-13 budget is uncommonly painless.

The superintendent and the school board, led by President Joe Buck, deserve credit for taking care of business on the financial side and sparing the public from some tough choices.

So why the turnaround?

School officials said they expect larger-than-anticipated revenue from local property taxes for schools. They also received additional funds from the state. These two revenue streams helped fill in that $16 million gap. So schools should have the money to pay for academic programs that provide a more enriching IB education for high-achieving students, who sometimes don’t get the attention they deserve. The system should be able to provide a full year of Pre-K programs, which means more young children should be better prepared for kindergarten.

That doesn’t mean, however, everything was saved. Fith-grade band, for example, didn’t make the cut. The school district also trimmed four central office positions and 18 custodial jobs from the system’s payroll. All 22 positions were vacant. Getting rid of these open slots is preferable to cutting academics that affect real students.